Coin holder



March 22, 1966 J. M, SEGEL 3,241,659

COIN HOLDER Filed Sept. 2, 1964 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. SEGA L ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,241,659 QOIN HGLDER Joseph M. Segel,Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to General Numismatics (imputation,Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 2, 1964,Ser. No. 393,992 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 2t]6-.82)

This invention relates to a new coin holder, and more particularly to acoin holder adapted to be used by numismatists.

The present invention specifically relates to a device which is used forthe collection of rare coins. The device consists of a package forholding a rare coin. The package is so constructed that all portions ofthe coin may be displayed without removing it from the package. Hence,loss or damage of the rare coin is minimized.

The coin holder of the present invention is further designed so that itcan be used by beginners as well as those highly skilled in the scienceof numismatics. The holder is provided with indicia illustrating areplica of a rare coin to be collected and held by the holder. Thereplica is adapted to be removed from the holder and replaced by theactual coin when found.

The replica is the same size and thickness as the coin to be collected.Thus, when the actual coin is substituted for its replica there will beno air space between the coin and its holder and the coin cannot becomecorroded. Indicia are also provided on the holder describing the coinand its particular history, thereby adding to the enjoyment of findingthe coin as well as indicating to the numismatist what coin to look forin order to enhance his collection.

The coin holder is also designed so that it may be easily held within acoin collection album and removed for display with a minimum of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coinholder,

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coin holderwhich can be used by beginners as well as advanced students of thescience of numismatics.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin holderwhich contains a replica of the coin to be collected by the numismatistfor deposit within the holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin holder containinga description of the coin to be collected and deposited within the coinholder.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a coin holder whichcan be inserted within a coin album for storage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a coin holderwhich is simple to manufacture, comprises a minimum number ofcomponents, and provides a neat and attractive appearance whenassembled.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the coin holder of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate blank comprising acomponent of the coin holder illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a knockout portion of the intermediateblank illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the coin holder illustratedin FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the coin holder of the presentinvention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The coin holder 10when assembled comprises a package for holding a coin 50.

The coin holder 10 includes three superimposed octagonal blanks 12, 14and 16. Each of the blanks may be formed from a molded resinous materialwhich is durable and inexpensive to manufacture. On the other hand, theblanks may be die cut from a sheet.

The top blank 12 and the bottom blank 16 of the coin holder 10 areformed from transparent resinous material. The intermediate blank 14 isformed from an opaque resinous material for a purpose which will be madeclear hereinafter.

The intermediate blank 14 includes a top opaque surface 18 and a bottomopaque surface 20. Indicia 22 are printed on the top and bottom surfaces18 and 20 of the blank 14. The indicia 22 provide a description of thecoin to be collected and held by the holder 10. The indicia may alsocontain a brief history of the coin and its importance, country oforigin, etc. It is desirable that the indicia on the surface 18 and theindicia on the surface 20 of the intermediate blank 14 be identical.When the intermediate blank is sandwiched between the top and bottomtransparent blanks 12 and 16, respectively, as illustrated in FIGURE 1,the indicia 22 will be readily viewable from either side of the holder10.

The intermediate opaque blank 14 is also provided with a centrallylocated knock-out portion 24. The knock-out portion 24 is integral withthe remainder of the blank 14 at spaced opposed points. It is readilyremovable from the blank 14 by simply pressing it with a finger orthumb.

The knock-out portion 24, which is also opaque, is a replica of the coinwhich is to be collected and placed within the holder 10. Accordingly,the obverse portion 26 of the coin 50 is reproduced by a lithographic orother printing method on the top surface of the knockout portion 24 asindicated by the indicia 30. Similarly, the reverse portion 28 of thecoin 50 is reproduced on the bottom surface of the knock-out portion 24as indicated by the indicia 32. It should also be noted that theperiphery of the knock-out portion 24 is substantially the same as theperiphery of the coin 50. Hence, when it is replaced by the coin 50,there will be no air space between the coin and the blank 14 so thatcorrosion is minimized.

The written description of the coin 50 provided by the indicia 22 inconjunction with the replica of the coin provided by the knock-outportion 24, enables the numismatist to readily compare any coin with theone he is seeking. When the coin is obtained, the knock-out portion 24is simply punched from the blank 14 and replaced by the coin 50. Theblank 14 is constructed so that its thickness approxiates the thicknessof the coin 50. Since the periphery of the knock-out portion 24 issubstantially equal to the periphery of the coin 59, the coin 50 isadapted to be tightly held in place within the blank 14. The indicia 22remain on the blank 14 and describe the history and peculiarities of thecoin 50.

The blank 14 containing the coin 50 is then positioned between thetransparent top blank 12 and the transparent bottom blank 16. The blank14 is locked in place between the top and bottom transparent blanks.

In order to lock the opaque blank and coin 50 between the transparentblanks l2 and 16, a plurality of elongated slots 34, 36, 38 and 40 areformed along opposed peripheral portions of the blank 14. The top blank12 includes downwardly projecting lugs 42 and 44 which mate with slots34 and 38 respectively to lock the blanks 12 and 14 together. The bottomblank 16 is provided with upwardly projecting lugs 46 and 48 which areadapted to be received and mate with the slots 40 and 36 in the blank 14to lock the blanks 14 and 16 together. The lugs 42, 44, 46 and 48 can bepunched out from the blanks 12 and 16 or integrally molded therewith.The depth of the slots 34, 36, 38 and 40 is substantially equal to theheight of each of the lugs. A tight fit is provided between each of thelugs and its associated slot whereby the parts are adapted to remain inassembled relationship as shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5.

Alternatively, the lugs on the top and bottom blanks may be made equalto approximately half the depth of slots in the intermediate blank 14.If this is the case, only two slots need be provided in the intermediateblank. The lugs could then enter the two opposed slots in theintermediate blank and the lugs on the top and bottom blanks can abut tomaintain the coin holder in assembled relation.

When the coin holder is assemblied as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5,the coin 50 is tightly locked in place by abutment with the top andbottom blanks. Since the top and bottom blanks are transparent, theindicia 22 as well as the obverse and reverse side of the coin 50 can bereadily viewed.

To remove the coin 50 from the holder 10, it is only necessary to removethe top and bottom blanks 12 and 16. The coin 50 can then be pressedoutwardly from the aperture 52 left by the removal of the knock-outportion 24, by a thumb or finger.

As shown in the drawings, the blanks 12, 14 and 16 are preferablyoctagonal in shape although they may be circular or square. This enablesthe coin holder 10 and the coin 50 to be mounted in a coin album asdisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 393,991, filedSeptember 2, 1964, entitled Coin Album. The description contained in mycopending application is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An object holder comprising a transparent top blank, a transparentbottom blank, and an intermediate blank having opposed opaque surfacesbetween said top and bottom blanks, means for removably holding saidblanks together in assembled stacked relationship, indicia on at leastone of the opaque surfaces of said intermediate blank describing theobject to be held by said holder, a knock-out portion in said opaqueintermediate blank adapted to be punched from said blank and replaced byan object described by said indicia, said knock-out portion havingopposed surfaces, indicia on one of the opposed surfaces of saidknock-out portion depicting a replica of the obverse of the objectdescribed by said first named indicia on said intermediate blank, andindicia on the other opposed surface of said knock-out portion depictinga replica of the reverse of the object described by said first namedindicia.

2. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said object is a coin andthe other surface of said opaque intermediate blank includes indiciadescribing the coin to be held by said holder, whereby said descriptionmay be read through said transparent top blank and said transparentbottom blank.

3. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein the periphery of saidknock-out portion is substantially identical to the periphery of theobject which is adapted to replace said knock-out portion.

4. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes slots through opposed peripheral portions of said intermediateblank, and mating lugs projecting upwardly from opposed peripheralportions of said bottom blank and downwardly from opposed peripheralportions of said top blank receivable within said slots.

5. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top blank, bottomblank, and intermediate blank are octagonal in shape.

6. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top and bottomblanks are formed from transparent resinous material, and saidintermeidate blank and knock-out portion are formed from opaque resinousmaterial.

7. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knock-out portion isintegral with the remainder of said opaque intermediate blank at opposedpoints along its periphery.

8. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said knock-out portion isin the center of said opaque intermediate blank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,516,398 11/1924McDowell. 1,554,191 9/ 1925 Alexander. 1,953,884 4/1934 McAleer229-7.]48 2,060,863 11/1936 Hasse 2297.161 2,415,859 2/1947 Ancker 206423,043,492 7/1962 Stewart 206-62 X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN OBJECT HOLDER COMPRISING A TRANSPARENT TOP BLANK, A TRANSPARENTBOTTOM BLANK, AND AN INTERMEDIATE BLANK HAVING OPPOSED OPAQUE SURFACESBETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM BLANKS, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY HOLDING SAIDBLANKS TOGETHER IN ASSEMBLED STACKED RELATIONSHIP, INDICIA ON AT LEASTONE OF THE OPAQUE SURFACES OF SAID INTERMEDIATE BLANK DESCRIBING THEOBJECT TO BE HELD BY SAID HOLDER, A KNOCK-OUT PORTION IN SAID OPAQUEINTERMEDIATE BLANK ADAPTED TO BE PUNCHED FROM SAID BLANK AND REPLACED BYAN OBJECT DESCRIBED BY SAID INDICIA, SAID KNOCK-OUT PORTION HAVINGOPPOSED SURFACES, INDICIA ON ONE OF THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF SAIDKNOCK-OUT PORTION DEPICTING A REPLICA OF THE OBVERSE OF THE OBJECTDESCRIBED BY SAID FIRST NAMED INDICIA ON SAID INTERMEDIATE BLANK, ANDINDICIA ON THE OTHER OPPOSED SURFACE OF SAID KNOCK-OUT PORTION DEPICTINGA REPLICA OF THE REVERSE OF THE OBJECT DESCRIBED BY SAID FIRST NAMEDINDICIA.